Blog post says Kansas government is growing

Government in Kansas is growing, according to an economist with the Sandlian Center for Entrepreneurial Government at the Kansas Policy Institute.

“While there are many different ways we can measure how big government has gotten in terms of these dollars, there’s another way we can look at it, as well,” said Michael Austin. “Jobs, you can look at it through income and you can look at it through actual taxation.”

Growth in government is outpacing private sector growth.

“Private sector jobs in Kansas have grown at .9% over the prior fiscal year, that’s compared to last July,” said Austin. “That’s how fast Kansas grows over the past 30 years. We’re right along average. State government jobs, that’s 1.4% higher.”

It’s the largest amount of state jobs gained since 2011.

“Would you like more lawyers at the state government writing regulations, making it harder to start up a business?,” asked Austin. “Or, would you want more people working at the tax collection department, the Department of Revenue, making sure anybody who makes a mistake pays the appropriate amount of tax to the state government? Government jobs should follow private sector jobs, they should not lead it.”

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia compiles an economic index for all 50 states in the U.S. Their most recent estimate in May shows Kansas is fourth from the worst performing state in the country.

Image courtesy: Kansas Policy Institute